The energy industry plays a key role in making this happen – from providing more sources of renewable energy, to ensuring the infrastructure is in place to transport energy to where it is needed.

The decisions we take now, to make our energy system cleaner, directly impact the future of our planet. National Grid has a critical role to play in the acceleration towards a cleaner future, and we are working to build a cleaner, fairer, and more affordable energy system that serves everyone, powering the future of our homes, transport, and industry.
 

Who is National Grid?

Our businesses sit at the heart of Britain’s energy system, connecting millions of people to the energy they use every day. We bring energy to life – in the heat, light and power we bring to our customers and businesses; in the way that we support our communities and help them grow; and in the way we show up in the world.

National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) owns, builds and maintains the electricity transmission network in England and Wales. It is NGET that is developing plans for Grain to Tilbury. 
 

What is Grain to Tilbury?

The Grain to Tilbury project is a proposed electricity infrastructure upgrade, involving the replacement of the existing 1960s Thames Cable Tunnel beneath the Thames between Tilbury and Gravesend. The existing tunnel was built in 1969 and houses 400 kilovolt (kV) transmission cables as part of National Grid's high voltage transmission network.

The existing tunnel is reaching the end of its useful life, and therefore our proposals include the construction of a new tunnel, the installation of new cabling, and the construction of two headhouses at either end of the tunnel. Strengthening the network here is vital to deliver cleaner, greener electricity efficiently, reliable, and safely and to support the UK's move to net zero.

The Grain to Tilbury proposals form part of a wider suite of infrastructure upgrades and reinforcements planned by National Grid as part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. The Great Grid Upgrade will play a big part in the UK government’s plan to power all homes and businesses with green energy by 2030.

Our public consultation

To inform our proposals, we held a public consultation for the local community in Tilbury and Gravesend where attendees were able to meet the project team, review our proposals and feedback on our plans.

You can view the recordings of our Thurrock and Gravesham webinars to find out more about the project:

View the Thurrock webinar recording (18 October 2023)

View the Gravesham webinar recording (19 October 2023)
 
The deadline for consultation responses was Sunday 29 October 2023. Following the consultation, we carefully considered feedback received from key stakeholders and local residents.

Our applications to Thurrock Council and Gravesham Borough Council were submitted and validated in early 2024. Our applications can be viewed here: 23/01502/FUL (Thurrock) and 20231313 (Gravesham).

How to get in touch

• Email us at [email protected]
• Call us on 020 3398 1599 
   

Find out more

Please click on the boxes below to find out more about our proposals.

Accessibility

We are committed to making project information accessible to all users. If you need any information or documents in an alternative format such as large print, Braille or audio tape, get in touch using the contact details below.
 

Contact us

For general enquiries or to register for project updates, please use our contact form below, or contact us by:

Phone: 020 3398 1599

Opening hours: 9:00am – 5:30pm

Freepost: FREEPOST GRAIN TO TILBURY PROJECT